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Whitewater Memorial State Park

Whitewater Memorial State Park advisories

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has adjusted services, events and operations to protect Hoosiers and prevent further spread of COVID-19. Please visit on.IN.gov/dnrcovid19 for a listing of what is open, closed, restricted and canceled.

Upcoming Events at Whitewater Memorial

A part of the Brookville Lake-Whitewater Memorial State Park Complex, Whitewater Memorial State Park is a great family getaway because of its 200-acre Whitewater Lake, access to Brookville Reservoir, and other recreational facilities.

Shoreline hiking, flat-water boating, swimming, fishing and camping opportunities are abundant around the man-made lake. The access to Brookville Reservoir provides many opportunities for seeing migrating flocks of birds.

Whitewater Memorial State Park boasts 9 miles of horseback riding trails with access both for day users and from the horsemen’s campground. The saddle barn concessionaire offers hayrides, guided trail rides, and sleigh rides, weather permitting.

The land for the park was originally purchased by the surrounding counties of Union, Fayette, Franklin and Wayne as a memorial to the men and women who served in World War II. It became the 16th park in the Indiana State Park system in 1949.

The hiking trails are designed for foot traffic only. No bicycles, rollerblades, horses or motorized vehicles are allowed on the hiking trails. Hiking trails are marked with wooden routed signs as well as white fiberglass marker posts with the hiking symbol on it.

1. Memorial Loop (2.5 miles) Moderate — Easily accessed from many different locations, this trail travels along the eastern shore of Whitewater Lake through a variety of forest types.

2. Cattail Alley Trail (1 mile) Moderate — Accesses the family campground to the beach area of Whitewater Lake. The northwest end of the trail is marked by acres of cattails, providing great habitat for many species of waterfowl and other birds.

3. Red Springs Loop (1.2 miles) Moderate — This loop trail can be accessed from the spillway parking lot or the Nature Preserve parking lot. The majority of the trail meanders through the Hornbean Nature Preserve and past large seep springs that gush from the hillsides, leaving its minerals and iron deposits to cast a rusty color over the surface water. This is a wonderful trail for spring wildflowers.

4. Lakeshore Trail (2.7 miles) Moderate —(.5 mile) Short Loop—The short loop and longest trail starts and ends at the Hornbeam Nature Preserve parking lot. It traverses through hills and valleys of beautiful hardwoods along the western shore of Whitewater Lake. The half-mile short loop is at the beginning—watch for wooden signs. The long trail turns around at the wooden steps and observation deck.

Description of Bridle Trails (9 miles)—The large loop trail that traverses around the edge of the property can be accessed from the Day Horsemen’s Area or the Horsemen’s Campground. The saddle barn trail is exclusively for saddle barn patrons. Horses must stay on designated horse trails at all times.